Best Schools in San Mateo County, CA
San Mateo County, CA has 260 public schools (39 high, 27 middle, 167 elementary) serving 108,761 students. On average they score 50% on state proficiency tests against a projected 49%, so schools in San Mateo County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in San Mateo County, CA
The top high schools in San Mateo County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Carlmont High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sequoia Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2322 Students
2. Palo Alto High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Palo Alto Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1992 Students
3. Design Tech High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Design Tech High District • Charter • Grades 9 - 12 • 545 Students
4. Burlingame High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Mateo Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1519 Students
5. Aragon High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Mateo Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1740 Students
6. Mills High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Mateo Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1141 Students
7. Menlo-atherton High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sequoia Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2125 Students
8. Oceana High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jefferson Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 535 Students
9. Summit Public School: Shasta
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Summit Public School: Shasta District • Charter • Grades 9 - 12 • 442 Students
10. El Camino High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
South San Francisco Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1173 Students
Best Middle Schools in San Mateo County, CA
The top middle schools in San Mateo County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. North Star Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Redwood City Elementary • Public • Grades 3 - 8 • 519 Students
2. Corte Madera
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Portola Valley Elementary • Public • Grades 4 - 8 • 273 Students
3. Ralston Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Belmont-redwood Shores Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1117 Students
4. Tierra Linda Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Carlos Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 458 Students
5. Central Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Carlos Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 427 Students
6. La Entrada Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Lomitas Elementary • Public • Grades 4 - 8 • 595 Students
7. Crocker Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hillsborough City Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 435 Students
8. Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Palo Alto Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 755 Students
9. Hillview Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Menlo Park City Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 867 Students
10. Burlingame Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Burlingame Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1013 Students
Best Elementary Schools in San Mateo County, CA
The top elementary schools in San Mateo County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Arundel Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Carlos Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 3 • 368 Students
2. North Hillsborough
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hillsborough City Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 264 Students
3. Ormondale Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Portola Valley Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 3 • 240 Students
4. Central Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Belmont-redwood Shores Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 437 Students
5. South Hillsborough
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hillsborough City Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 263 Students
6. Las Lomitas Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Lomitas Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 3 • 551 Students
7. Oak Knoll Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Menlo Park City Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 562 Students
8. Fox Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Belmont-redwood Shores Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 407 Students
9. Mariposa
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Carlos Elementary • Public • Grades 4 - 5 • 277 Students
10. College Park Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Mateo-foster City • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 433 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in San Mateo County, CA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
San Mateo County, CA has a total population of 764,442 with 24% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 90%, and 53% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in San Mateo County, CA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood San Mateo County, CA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
25.54 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.23 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
21.31 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in San Mateo County, CA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for San Mateo County, CA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit San Mateo County, CA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in San Mateo County, CA
How many schools are in San Mateo County, CA?
San Mateo County, CA has 260 public schools: 39 high schools, 27 middle schools and 167 elementary schools, serving 108,761 students in total.
How do schools in San Mateo County perform on state tests?
On average, 260 schools in San Mateo County score 50% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 49%, so on average schools in San Mateo County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in San Mateo County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near San Mateo County, CA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 40%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 48%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 40%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 51%
- Projected: 50%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 30%
- Projected: 30%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 29%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 26%
- Projected: 25%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 33%
- Projected: 38%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 28%
- Projected: 34%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in San Mateo County
23 places in San Mateo County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (23)
- Redwood City (21)
- San Mateo (20)
- Daly City (19)
- South San Francisco (11)
- Pacifica (9)
- San Bruno (9)
- San Carlos (9)
- Burlingame (8)
- Menlo Park (7)
- Belmont (6)
- East Palo Alto (6)
- Atherton (5)
- Foster City (5)
- Millbrae (5)
- Half Moon Bay (4)
- Hillsborough (4)
- Woodside (3)
- Brisbane (2)
- Colma (2)
- Pescadero (2)
- Portola Valley (2)
- La Honda (1)
- Montara (1)
School districts (20)
- San Mateo-Foster City (21 schools)
- South San Francisco Unified (15 schools)
- Jefferson Elementary (14 schools)
- Redwood City Elementary (12 schools)
- San Carlos Elementary (8 schools)
- Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary (7 schools)
- Burlingame Elementary (7 schools)
- Cabrillo Unified (7 schools)
- Pacifica (7 schools)
- San Mateo Union High (7 schools)
- San Bruno Park Elementary (6 schools)
- Sequoia Union High (6 schools)
- Jefferson Union High (5 schools)
- Millbrae Elementary (5 schools)
- Hillsborough City Elementary (4 schools)
- Menlo Park City Elementary (4 schools)
- Ravenswood City Elementary (4 schools)
- Brisbane Elementary (3 schools)
- La Honda-Pescadero Unified (3 schools)
- San Mateo County Office of Education (3 schools)